Software Engineering Tech Lead

About Immunai:

Immunai is an engineering-first platform company aiming to improve therapeutic decision-making throughout the drug discovery and development process. We are mapping the immune system at unprecedented scale and granularity and applying machine learning to this massive clinico-immune database, in order to generate novel insights into disease pathology for our partners - pharma companies and research institutes. We provide a comprehensive, end-to-end solution - from data generation and curation to therapeutics development, that continuously supports and validates the capabilities of our platform. 

As drug development is becoming increasingly inefficient, our ultimate goal is to help bring breakthrough medicines to patients as quickly and successfully as possible.

Immunai is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

About the role:

The Metadata Developers Team, part of the Immunai Software group, focuses on advanced tools and solutions to retrieve, store, handle, and analyze complex descriptive biological data, such as laboratory and clinical metadata, with extensive use of domain ontologies. In close collaboration with Immunai’s biocurators and biology experts, we are continuously advancing our technology and data models to improve the consistency and descriptive power of our vast clinical database, as well as the usability and accessibility of data that feed the company’s most advanced algorithms for therapeutic decision-making and discovery.

As a Tech Lead at Immunai, you will master metadata-centric software solutions for biological and clinical knowledge by developing a deep understanding of the bio-curation activity and the related data models and processes. You will translate complex operational and data requirements into modular and efficient tools that aim at seamlessly integrating the various phases of curation. You will also be an interface between data producers and consumers to ensure that maximum value can be extracted from our data assets. While being a major code contributor to new and existing tools, you will also act as a guide and mentor to foster innovation and high-quality coding style across the team. Finally, you will be the liaison with other key figures, such as data architect, data steward, and tech leads from complementary domains, in order to ensure alignment on software development standards, data architecture, and data operational processes.

Location: Zürich, Switzerland

What will you do?

• Guide and collaborate with other Metadata Dev team members in an agile setting to build and maintain new metadata pipelines and applications, or to enhance existing ones, while promoting consistency and harmonization of different components
• Interact with biologists, bioinformaticians, and other cross-functional teams to understand and formalize their data needs and tooling requirements, articulate fit-for-purpose solutions that are also innovative and forward-looking
• Take responsibility for the quality and integrity of deliverables - you will overlook the coding practices of the team and make sure that they align with the standards set for the whole Software Development group
• Participate and contribute in regular meetings to align on technical and operational decisions with your peers from other teams or other stakeholders
• Coordinate and contribute to the documentation, training, and user support efforts

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Software Engineering, Bioinformatics, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience as a Software Engineer, with a strong track-record in handling complex datasets, mastering elaborated data processes, and translating challenging product requirements into effective software solutions
• Excellent programming skills with more than one high-level core language: Python (must have), Java (or similar languages), JavaScript (highly desirable)
• Extensive experience with relational databases (PostgreSQL preferred), including query optimization and good general understanding of database architectures
• Solid understanding of modern web UI technology and web APIs with experience on front-end design and development
• An analytical mindset with strong problem-solving skills and abstraction power
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and spoken

Preferred qualifications:

• Hands-on front-end coding experience with the JS TypeScript + React framework
• Previous experience with cloud environments is a strong advantage (Google preferred)
• Working knowledge on NoSQL databases (e.g. MongoDB) and other data storage technologies (e.g. databases or data warehousing technologies, ideally BigQuery)
• Knowledge of secure coding practices, authentication protocols (OAuth, JWT), and data privacy standards
• Familiarity with biotech or healthcare data is an advantage

Desired personal traits:

• You want to make an impact on humankind
• You prioritize “We” over “I”
• You enjoy getting things done and striving for excellence
• You collaborate effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures
• You have a growth mindset
• You are candid, authentic, and transparent

*Please note that when you apply for a position at Immunai, your application will be processed via our recruitment platform Comeet. You can read more about how we process personal data here: https://www.immunai.com/privacy-policy/